Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18
Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 74 — ब्रह्मप्रोक्तलिङ्गार्चनविधिः
Materials, Classes, and Fruits of Linga-Worship
मृन्मयं चैव विप्रेन्द्राः सर्वसिद्धिकरं शुभम् शैलजं चोत्तमं प्रोक्तं मध्यमं चैव धातुजम्
mṛnmayaṃ caiva viprendrāḥ sarvasiddhikaraṃ śubham śailajaṃ cottamaṃ proktaṃ madhyamaṃ caiva dhātujam
O pinakamainam sa mga Brahmin, ang Liṅga na gawa sa luwad ay mapalad at nagbubunga ng lahat ng siddhi. Ang Liṅga na mula sa bato ay ipinahayag na pinakamataas, samantalang ang Liṅga na gawa sa metal ay sinasabing nasa gitnang antas.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
FAQs
It ranks common Linga materials and links them to spiritual fruit: clay is praised as auspicious and siddhi-giving, stone is stated as the सर्वोत्तम (highest), and metal is placed as मध्यम (middle), guiding devotees in choosing a worship-form.
By allowing Shiva’s worship to be fully effective through multiple material supports, it implies that Pati (Shiva) is not confined to any substance; through proper bhakti and vidhi, the Linga becomes a valid locus for Shiva’s anugraha (grace) upon the pashu (individual soul).
It highlights Linga-puja with a properly chosen and installed Linga (especially stone), oriented toward siddhi and auspiciousness—supporting a Pashupata-aligned discipline where purity, worship, and Shiva’s grace loosen pasha (bondage).